Gear shifting mechanism



June 1947. E. G. KESLING GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM Original Filedqui 20, 1935 Ill J I Ell 1.

Reissues! June 24, i947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 22,892 GEAR shir'rrNe MECHANISM Elmer G. Kesling, Bloomfield, M0.

Original No. 2,069,526, dated February 2, 1937,

Serial No. 32,366, July 20, 1935. Application for reissue December 17, 1938, Serial No. 246,454

18 Claims.

This invention relates to gear shifting mechanism, and has special utility as a part of the transmission gearing of automobiles and other vehicles. This improved gear shifting mechanism is of that type in which manual energy is used to effect the selecting movements and to regulate valve mechanism for controlling fluid energy to effect the shifting movements, with the added feature of effecting the shifting movements by manual energy in case the fluid energy fails to effect the shifting movements, or in case no fluid energy is being supplied, and utilizing the same movements to effect manual shifting as in effecting the valve regulation.

The flexible shaft shown in this application is shown and claimed in my prior Patent No. 2,036,528, dated April '7, 1936.

Objects of the invention are to provide an actuator having rotative selective movements and longitudinal shifting movements in which both the manual and the power devices are directly connected to the actuator; to provide a mechanism capable of free operation and requiring a minimum of effort to effect the operation of selection and of valve control; to provide a construction and arrangement of cooperative parts whereby complete selecting and shifting operations may be manually performed, if desired; to provide mechanism wherein manual force is normally used to effect selection and valve regulation only, and other means to effect the shifting movements; to provide mechanism wherein like movements of the manual operating means to effect valve regulation of a given shifting movement are made to effect manually the same shift; and to provide means for positively stopping the manual valve operating means at a predetermined point for the required fulfillment of movement to complete each of the several shifts effected by power means.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description, reference being made to the annexed drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the manual control shown attached to the instrument panel of an automobile.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section approximately on the line 22 of Fig. 3, showing the application of the shifting mechanism to the transmission of an automobile.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line l-l of Fig. 1.

2 Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5. of. Fig. 1.

. or otherwise attached thereto.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-45 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a view partly in section of a portion of the shaft 39, showing said shaft 39 turned to the point where the stop-notch I2 is at the top of said shaft 39'.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8- of Fig. '7.

The customary gear case I contains the usual selective gears (not shown). A yoke 2 for shifting the gears either into high or intermediate speeds is secured to a shift rail 3 by a bolt 4 and a yoke 5 for shifting the gears either into lowor reverse speeds is secured to a shift rail B by a bolt 1. Notches a and 9 are formed in a part of the yokes 2 and 5, respectively. The customary spring plungers and interlock are used in connection with the shift rails 3 and 6.

A spindle H1 is mounted for rocking and longitudinal movements in the gear case cover II. A block l-Z selectively engageable with the notches 8 and 9 is secured to the spindle Ill by bolts 13-,

A tubular projection l4 extending from one end of the cover I I gives bearing to the adjacent'end of the spindle Ill, and has an integral plate 15 formed on the extended end thereof. A cylinder l6 and cylinder head l l are secured to the plate l5 by bolts IR. A bolt [9 attaches the lower part of the cylinder head H to the cylinder [6.

The spindle I'll projects into the cylinder l6 and has a circumferential groove I0 near the end thereof within the cylinder IE to which a piston 2|]. is secured by a two-piece disk 20. The groove H1 and the disk 20" allow the spindle ID to turn in the piston 20, but do not permit relative longitudinal movement between the spindle l 0 and the piston 20-. The piston 20 divides the cylinder into chambers 2| and 2-2. A tube 23 is secured ina wall of the cylinder l6 and communicates with the chamber 2|. A tube 24 is secured in a wall of the cylinder l6 and communicates with the chamber 22. The cylinder [6 may be placed any desirable distance from the gear case, and if necessary can be additionally supported by any.

3 by an open-Walled tubular block 39 and the bolts 3| and 32. The supporting member 29 is secured to the instrument panel 33 by bolts (not shown). A flexible shaft 34 is supported and guided in the curved tube 26. One end of the flexible shaft 34 is secured in an axial bore in the end of the spindle It! by a pin 35. The other end of the flexible shaft 34 is attached to one end of a tubular element 36 mounted for longitudinal and turning movements in the support 29. The attachment between the shaft 34 and the tubular element 35 is rigid and comprises a washer 31 and a pin 33 passing through said parts (Fig. 1). The inner surface of the tubular element 36 constitutes a valve seat.

An operating shaft 39 is mounted for rocking and longitudinal movements in one end of the member 29. One end of the operating shaft 39 projects beyond the end of the member 29, and an operating handle 49 is secured thereto by a screw 4|. The other end of the operating shaft 39 is integral with an element 42 mounted for longitudinal sliding movements in the tubular element 36, extent of such longitudinal movement being limited by a slot 43 in the element 36 and a tube 44 extending through said slot and screwed into the unitary element 39, 42. Thus, a lost motion connection between the elements 39 and 36 is provided, and the actuator spindle ID for the shifter elements may be turned into selective engagement with said shifter elements by manual turning movements of the shaft 39, and may be moved longitudinally in shifting operations by manual longitudinal movements of the shaft 39. The elements 36 and 42 are cooperatively associated and formed to constitute a valve means controlling energization of the power device 20, etc.

One end of each of the tubes 45, 46 and 41 is soldered or otherwise secured in the wall of the tubular element 36 in longitudinal alignment with the slot 43. Circumferential grooves 48 and 49 are provided in the inner wall of the element 36 and communicate with the tubes 46 and 41, respectively. The grooves 48 and 49 are ports and will hereinafter be referred to as port 48 and port 49, respectively. A notch in the side of the valve member 42 forms the intake port 59 which communicates with the tube 45 by a hole through the adjacent wall of the element 36. A hole 52 is bored into the valve member 42 and is closed adjacent the free end of the member 42 by a disk 53 secured therein by solder or otherwise (Fig. 6). A slot in the wall of the hole 52 forms an exhaust outlet 54 which may be made to communicate with the port 48; and another slot in the wall of thehole 52 forms an exhaust outlet 55 which may be made to communicate with the port 49 (Fig. 1). The tube 44 opens into the hole 52.

The tubes 44, 45, 46 and 41 all extend through a substantially wide slot 56 through the wall of the supporting member 29. The slot 56 limits the extent of rocking movements of the operating parts 36, 39, 40, etc., by a side of the tube 44 en countering one or the other of the side walls 51 or 5B of the slot 56. It is noted that the tube 44 has a larger diameter than the tubes 45, 46 and nected to the exhaust manifold (not shown) of the automobile, by a rubber tube 6|. The projecting ends of the tubes 23 and 46 are connected by a rubber tube 62, and the projecting ends of the tubes 24 and 41 are connected by a rubber tube 63. It is understood that these tubes 69 to 63, inclusive, may be made of any other air-tight flexible material. A neutral groove 64 is provided on the operating shaft 39 for engagement of a spring pressed ball 65 which is mounted in a hole 66 in a projection 67 formed on the member 29. The groove 64 is cut deeper at the proper point to form a neutral lock 69 for locking the operating shaft 39 against longitudinal movements from neutral position while positioned approximately in the center of its arc of rotation.

Stop-notches 69, 19, 1| and 12 are properly formed along the operating shaft 39 and are re spectively engaged by the ball 65 to stop the move ment of the operating shaft 39 at te proper point for the completion of the power shifting movements into reverse, low, intermediate and high speed positions, respectively. Each of these stopnotches has an abrupt wall 13 which is located on the side away from the neutral groove 64, and a sloping wall 14 which is on the side toward the groove 64. It is obvious that none of these notches 69, 10,1! or 12 can be moved past the ball 65, because the notch is deep enough to prevent the ball from raising over the abrupt wall 13; and it is clear that the notch can be moved from the ball 65 in the opposite direction; that is, away from the wall 13, because the ball 65 will raise over the sloping wall 14.

In the operation of the device, the operating handle 40 is turned until a side of the tube 44 encounters a side wall 51 or 5B of the slot 56, which turned position is the fully selected position. This turning movement, if made in neutral position, unlocks the ball 65 from the neutral lock 68 and places the notches 69-10 or 1l12, as the case may be, in longitudinal alignment with the ball 65; and, through the flexible shaft 34, turns the actuating spindle I n and block I2 to engage the block [2 in one or the other of the notches 8 or 9 and entirely free from that notch 8 or 9 which is not engaged, after which longitudinal movement of the parts will effect shifting of the selected gear.

Therefore, in making a shift into reverse speed by power means, starting from neutral position, which is the position shown in the drawings, selection is made by manually turning the handle 49 clockwise to fully selected position. This turning movement will disengage then neutral lock 68 from the ball 65 and place the stop-notch 69 in longitudinal alignment with the ball 65 and, through the flexible shaft 34 and connected parts, turn the spindle Ill and cause the block I2 to engage the notch 9 and entirely free itself from the notch 8, after which the handle 40 and shaft 3.9 are initially moved inwardly to open the valve and place the intake port 59 in communication with the port 49, and the exhaust port 54 with the port 49; whereupon vacuum energy through the hole 5| and tube 45-6| will deplete the air from the chamber 22 through the tube 24-63-41, while atmospheric air will rush into the chamber 2| through the tube 605944, hole'52, port 54, port 48 and tube 4662-23, and

push the piston 29 to the left, as shown in Fig.

2, to effect reverse speed position through the longitudinal movement of the spindle I 0, block same. Therefore, the valve mechanism is initially regulated by longitudinal movements of the operating means 39 and is finally regulated in a follow-up manner by the power means 20.

I do not restrict myself in any unessential respects, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising shifter elements, an actuator spindle mounted for rocking and longitudinal movements, means secured to said spindle for selectively engaging said elements respectively by rocking movements of said spindle and for shifting the selected element longitudinal movements of said spindle, manual means directly attached to one end of said spindle for selectively rocking said spindle, power means directly attached to the other end of said spindle for imparting shifting movements to said spindle, and means associated with said manual means to control the energization of said power means.

2. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising shifter elements, an actuator for selectively shifting said elements respectively, power means directly attached to said actuator for imparting shifting movements to said actuator, manual means directly attached to said actuator for selectively moving said actuator by rotative movements of said manual means, and valve controlling means for said power means associated with said manual means and regulated by longitudinal movements ofsaid manual means.

3. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising selective shifter elements, a power means selectively engageable for shifting said elements respectively, valve means for controlling said power means, a control shaft connected to said'power means and to said valve means, and manual means for rotating said shaft to selectively connect said power means with one of said elements and for regulating said valve to control said power means to shift the element selected.

4. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising shifter elements, a power device for shifting said elements, a control valve for said power device, a support, manual operating means movable longitudinally in said support for regulating said control valve, a ball mounted in said support, and a notch in said operating means for engaging said ball to positively limit said longitudinal movement of said operatin means in that direction.

5. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising shifter elements, an actuator engageable to selectively shift said elements respectively, power means for imparting shifting movements to said actuator, a valve element movable with said actuator and having a port communicating with said power means, manual means having relatively longitudinal movement with said actuator and rotatable to selectively engage said actuator with one of said shifter elements, and a second valve element associated with said manual means movable longitudinally therewith to control passage of fluid energy through said port, whereupon said fluid operates said power means.

6. Gear shiftin mechanism of the character described comprising selective shifter elements, an actuator for selectively engaging and shifting said elements, a power device connected to said actuator for moving said actuator to shift the selected element, a follow-up valve mechanism for controlling said power device, and operating means connected to a part of said valve mechanism and to said actuator for longitudinal movements for regulating said valve mechanism and also for assisting said power device to move said actuator.

7. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising selective shifter elements,- an actuator element for selectively engaging and shiftin said shifter elements, a power element connected to said actuator element for moving said actuator element to shift the selected shifter element, a follow-up valve mechanism for controlling said power element, operating means mounted for longitudinal movements for regulating said valve mechanism and also for assisting in effecting the shift of the selected shifter element, and manual means for operating said operating means.

8. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising shifter elements, a power device for shifting said elements, a support, control means for said device and a rotationally resilient and longitudinally movable shaft in said support for regulating said control means, and means cooperatin with said support for positively limiting longitudinal movement of said shaft.

9. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising selective shifter elements, a power device, a valve mechanism having an initial moving element and a follow-up element, an actuator supported for selective connection with one or the other of said shifter elements and being connected to said power device and to said follow-up element of said valve mechanism, and being movable to shift the selected shifter element and also to operate said follow-up element of said valve mechanism by said power device, means supported for longitudinal movements to operate said initial moving element of said valve mechanism and having connection with said actuator for assisting said power device in moving said actuator, and manual operatin means connected to said last named means.

10. The combination with a selective transmission mechanism having a plurality of spaced shifter bars movable longitudinally to establish different ear relations, of a shifter member movable into engagement with one or another of said bars, means operatively connected with said shifter member for so moving the same, means including a double-acting fluid pressure motor operatively connected with said shifter member for moving the same together with the shifter bar selected thereby in opposite directions, means including valve mechanism for controlling and directing the flow of fluid power to said motor, means for controlling the operation of the first named means, and means for actuating the two 11. In a gear shifting mechanism of the type having a pair of shifting bars adapted to be selectively engaged and moved longitudinally to establish a desired gear relation, the combination therewith, of a remotely-positioned manuallyoperable control lever movable laterally and longitudinally in a selective gear shifting simulat- 1 ing manner, a shiftin member, force transmitting means operatively connected with said shifting member and'actuated by lateral movements of said control lever to move said member into engagement with one or the other of said shifting bars, a single double-acting power device connected with said member to actuate the latter to move either shifting bar engaged thereby in either of opposite directions, and means including valve means controlled by longitudinal movements of said control lever in opposite directions for energizing said double-acting power device to efiect said last named movements of the shifting bars.

12. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising a shifter element, a power device connected to said element for shifting said element, a valve for controlling said power device, a support, a manual operating means connected to said power device and to said valve mova ble longitudinally in said support for regulating said valve and for manually operating said device in case said valve fails to control said device.

13. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising a shifter element, power means connected to said element for shifting said element, a control valve for said power means, and an operating device connected to said valve and to said element and mounted for longitudinal movements for regulating said valve and also for assisting said power means to shift said shifter element.

14. Gear shifting mechanism of the character descri bed comprising a shifter element, power means connected to said element for shifting said element, a follow-up valve mechanism for controlling said power means, and an operating device connected to said valve mechanism and to said element and mounted for longitudinal movements for regulating said valve mechanism and also for assisting said power means to shift said shifter element.

15. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising a shifter element, power means connected to said element for shifting said element, a follow-up valve mechanism for controlling said power means, an operating device connected to said valve mechanism and to said element and mounted for longitudinal movements for regulating said valve mechanism and also for assisting said power means to shift said shifter element, and manual means for operating said operating means.

16. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising a shifter element, a power device connected to said element for shifting said element, a follow-up valve mechanism for controlling said power device, a manual operating 10 means connected to said power device and to said valve mechanism and mounted for longitudinal movements for regulating said valve mechanism and for operatin said power device in case said valve fails to control said power device.

17. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising a shifter element, a power device connected to said element for shifting said element, a follow-up valve mechanism for controlling said device, means connected to said device and to said valve and mounted for longitudinal movements for regulating said valve and for operating said device in case said valve fails to control said device, and other means connected to said first named means for manually operating said first named means.

18. Gear shifting mechanism of the character described comprising selective shifter elements, an actuator for selectively engaging and shifting said elements, a power device connected to said actuator for moving said actuator to shift the selected element, a follow-up valve mechanism for controlling said power device, means connected to a part of said valve mechanism and to said actuator for longitudinal movements for regulating said valve mechanism and also for assisting said power device to move said actuator, and manual operating means connected to said first named means.

ELMIER G. KESLING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,258,337 Imblum Mar. 5, 1918 2,113,860 Sanford Apr. 12, 1938 1,797,853 Bragg Mar. 24, 1931' 1,270,408 Gray June 25, 1918 1,175,145 Gray Mar. 14, 1916 2,044,463 Burt June 16, 1936 1,217,117 Curtiss Feb. 20, 1917 2,012,398 McKenzie Aug. 27, 1935 1,673,487 Bice June 12, 1928 Re. 19,382 Gaskill Nov. 27, 1934 1,993,015 Moorhouse -1 Mar. 5, 1935 1,940,236 Alcock Dec. 9, 1933 2,212,442 Kliesrath Aug. 20, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 351,505 Great Britain June 29, 1931 

